Bachman???

[J Campbell]

I'm looking for some feedback on Bachman products.

Oddly enough, the local Ace Hardware around the corner has a little corner of the store dedicated to Model Railroading.  Mostly larger scale stuff, but they had a display case of HO loco's and rolling stock.  They had some GP-38/40's that were priced @ right around $70 bucks and it says they were DCC equipped. 

I have a few Athearn Genesis locos, and the the detail of the "Ace" locos looked good, but not as detailed as my Genesis stuff.  Things like I couldn't see through the fans, the handrails were scale in apperance, but seemed flimsy, no grab irons, etc.  Other than that, I think they could look pretty respectable (good enough for me anyway) with some additional detailing.

The price tags said nothing about a manufacturer, but I'm assuming they were Bachman because that's what all the other, labeled products were.  They were all new in the box, but 70 bucks for a new, DCC equipped loco seemed a little too good to be true.

Anybody have any advice/warnings/thoughts or otherwise?

[Autobus Prime]

JC:

I can already tell you where this thread will go.

10 PRINT "Bachmann is utter trash like Tyco! It's bad."

20 PRINT "Bachmann has actually upgraded their stuff since the old days. It's good."

30 PRINT "Bachmann does quality control with a dartboard. Some is good and some is bad."

40 GOTO 10

I don't really have enough experience with newer Bachmann to say. Their older trainset stuff was about like other older trainset stuff, but Lifelike's pancake motors, though almost identical in design, seem to hold up better. Don't know why. But I don't know if they make any of the Kadercakes any more; they might have gone to all 8-wheel-drive.

[vsmith]

There entry level large scale line is good stuff to start with. Trains in all scales of course are like Scientology, the more you pay, the holier you get, better quality products/reliablilty/etc,  but the starting level stuff has to me proven very reliable, at least in G and in On30. I have heard from the smaller scale guys that all there newest stuff across the board is reasonably good stuff for the money.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I can tell you already, avoid the FT's, I've had nothing but problems with them. I have several of the GP's (two GP40's (not counting my thirty year veteran) and a GP35) that have provided me with great service. $70 is a little higher than regular retail. Walther's carries them for $60 to $65. The decoders in these units are very basic, simple motor control and directional headlights on/off. The can be addressed in either two digit or four digit mode and CV's are very limited.

[BRAKIE]

From what I been seeing out of the newer DCC equipped locomotives are very smooth running as are the newer Spectrums..

 

Autobus is correct..The Bachmann bashers will come forth judging all Bachmann by  the older train set stuff not fully realizing the improvements Bachmann has made.I was in that camp till I watch these newer engines run at the club..

[J Campbell]

Sorry...CV's?

I'm afraid I'm not very savvy on my DCC terminology.

[J Campbell]

So it seems as though for $60-$70 bucks, it'd be worth a shot to pick one up.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

CV's are variables that you can set with the better DCC systems. The Bachmann EZ-Command syatem won't do it. The variables include lighting functions, sound functions on locos that are so equipped, speed settings, etc. The choice of variables on the Bachmann DCC-OnBoard locos are shockingly limited.

[galaxy]

Not to good to be true, about right priced for some "DCC OnBoard" locos.

DCC Only for direction and speed and lights, though. If you want sound, it'll cost you more.

I enjoy my Bachmann DCC Onboards as a way to get into DCC. I have had no trouble with my F7 A  and F7B, my 0-6-0 or gp.

Some will swear by the Bachmann Spectrum DCC series, though they cost more but many do come with sound.

Other's will heartily disagree

 

[V&AL]

I have seen and purchases DCC onboard Bachamn Geeps for $30-40 dollars. $70 seems abit steep, and runnin the DCC onboard locos on a non-DCC system requires very well maintaind (i.e really clean) track. They stall on dirty spots and the decoder takes a second or 2 to re-boot the unit before pulling again. Other than that my 2 run very well...

[Don Gibson]

BACHMANN (or as some have called it, ''Botchman") gets mixed marks: I personally have had 6  engines. I now have 0. 'Nuff said.

'Spectrum' steam has been fairly well received. EZ track has not. Their DCC effort is geared for the beginner, and to move (their) engines, period.

Some newer products seem OK, but too many older products stank. Their focus has always been on cheap. For some that's enough.

Most of their products have been 'Borderline. Their warrantee repair is non existant, preferring exchange products - regardless of age - Sometimes for a fee.

Their products are aimed at the 'low end' of the market, so what do you expect?

 

[csxns]

I had a few Bachmann also and just like Don said now i have none. 'Nuff said.

[J Campbell]

So it seems as though for $60-$70 bucks, it'd be worth a shot to pick one up.

On second thought, maybe not.  I can get Athearn and Atlas stuff for right around the same price here:

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/SearchResults.asp

Granted, it's without DCC, but if the Bachman decoder/system is more or less a one-trick pony, it may not be all that hot. 

Incidentally, anyone have any experience purchasing anything from that site?

[PASMITH]

If it wasn't for Bachmann Spectrum steam, 90% of my 1900's logging railroad would remain HOn30.

Peter Smith, Memphis

[J Campbell]

Is that a good thing, or a bad thing?

[loathar]

So it seems as though for $60-$70 bucks, it'd be worth a shot to pick one up.

NO! That's about twice what they normally cost. $35-$40 is typical for a Bach GP-XX with DCC on board. They're not too bad. They have nice shell detail for the $$$. No flywheels. they rely on DCC momentum.
Unless this is some new Spectrum GP that I haven't seen yet, the price is WAY too high.

[J Campbell]

10-4.

So, I guess for $30-$40, it might be okay.

But what about the decoder/DCC issue?  Can it be swapped out with a more sophisiticated unit, maybe even add sound?  I mean, I know anything's possible, but would it be practical?

[Don Gibson]

'Model Train Stuff' is MB Klein Co, and gets high marks - all around, but they don't make it. Bacmann is Bachmann. Stewart is probably around 25% off.

The best FT's are those by Stewart (I have 8) and probably out of circulation. Excellent!

http://www.bowser-trains.com/Stewart/Stewart%20FT.htm

Their ATSF in 'CATSWHISKER is the only 'correct as-delvered rendition' for Santa Fe freight. (Any 'CIGAR BAND' were repaints).

[don7]

'Model Train Stuff' is MB Klein Co, and gets high marks - all around, but they don't make it. Bacmann is Bachmann.

 

ModelTrainStuff is one of my steady on line suppliers, I have bought a fair amount of items from them, fast shipping and what is advertised as in stock - is. Never had a back order from them. 

I for one am also very happy with my Bachmann Spectrum steamers, only wish I had not bought the Proto steamers first as they are next to useless for pulling power. In addition the Proto Heritage units cost twice as much as the Spectrum units.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

NO! That's about twice what they normally cost. $35-$40 is typical for a Bach GP-XX with DCC on board. They're not too bad. They have nice shell detail for the $$$. No flywheels. they rely on DCC momentum.
Unless this is some new Spectrum GP that I haven't seen yet, the price is WAY too high.

Loathar: Check Walther's. While the FT's and 70 tonners are on sale for $50 the GP's are running at $65.

[J Campbell]

'Model Train Stuff' is MB Klein Co, and gets high marks - all around, but they don't make it. Bacmann is Bachmann.

Yeah...I know that.

[Packer]

I have a few of the FTs, they are okay. Pretty good for the price though. (2 for 41 bucks, another 3 for 60.

My only complaint is that they are kind of noisy (they growl, not nearly as bas as athearn BB), but they just might need to be broken in for a while.

[V&AL]

10-4.

So, I guess for $30-$40, it might be okay.

But what about the decoder/DCC issue?  Can it be swapped out with a more sophisiticated unit, maybe even add sound?  I mean, I know anything's possible, but would it be practical?

 

negative. To my knowlege, the DCC is really onboard, and integral to the engine's main circuit board. The alternative is "DCC plug and play" where all you need is a decoder. You remove the factory installed dummy plug, drop in your decoder and roll.  Most newer spectrums are Plug and Play, but the DCC onboard are not.  They are what they are.  "Good enough" for the casual modeler, and pieces of junk to the rivet counter. I like mine.  I have a GP-30, a GP-40, and to E-60's that all work very well for me.

[J Campbell]

Good to know, thanks.

[V&AL]

here's pics of my GP-40, taken apart for painting.  No flywheels, and single-unit circuit board.

 

there are 11 on ebay right now for "buy it now", $42.49

[loathar]

No room for sound without milling the frame. The decoder in mine lasted for 6 hours before releasing it's magic smoke. Whosale Trains $36-$39.
http://www.wholesaletrains.com/HOProducts2.asp?Scale=HO&Item=160GP4

 

[Artur]

The on board DCC can be replaced, you would have to remove the whole board and wire in a decoder of your preference. but than again just buy the one with no decoder or like V&AL said one with DCC plug and play cct board. I would not recommend Bachman decoders to anyone.

[Packer]

So they used the same decoder for the FT units, IIRC NCE makes replacements.

IMO there may be room in the FTs, near the back in the As, or on the ends in the B units.

In that GP40 you might be able to cut a hole out in the fuel tank, and put a speaker in there facing down. Drill some holes in the plastic cover of the tank.

[twhite]

Okay, my 98% all-steam roster is mostly big, heavy, hunky, tinkered-with brass, but I can talk about Bachmann, but only DC and only their Spectrum steam.  I've got two heavy USRA 4-8-2's (C&O, SP), one USRA 2-6-6-2 (Undecorated), one 2-8-0 (Western Pacific) and one Shay.  I've bought them over a period of perhaps six years, I still have them.  They're nice, smooth running locomotives and they do what they're supposed to do on my railroad--HAUL!  I've kit-bashed the SP Mountain into a kinda-sorta MT-2 (still working on it off and on), and it's a smooth-running, husky hauler.  My USRA 2-6-6-2 is almost (I say ALMOST) as heavy a hauler as an expensive, smooth-running brass 2-6-6-0 that I have from PFM.  The Spectrum mallet will out-haul the PANTS off of a FAR more expensive Proto USRA 2-8-8-2, in fact I use the Spectrum as a helper for the Proto if I plan on hooking up more than ten cars for my 2% grades (Imagine, a big, supposedly hunking 2-8-8-2 spinning its drivers on a mere 2%.  Proto should hang their heads in shame ). 

I like them.  They've been good to me and for my layout.  No Bachmann(or at least Spectrum)-bashing from this end of the line. 

Tom

[Rotorranch]

I am very happy with most of the Bachmanns I've aquired over the last 10 years or so. Before that, it was hit or miss.

I am currently running a pair of DCC "On Board" FT's that I got, sans decoders, from Jeffrey W. He was less than pleased with them. I cleaned and lubed them, and I'm very happy with the way they run. The Kid came in the train room the other night, and fired the FT's up. He remarked as to how well they ran. I also have a couple of the older non DCC FT's from Jeffrey, and they aren't quite as smooth, but still plenty acceptable.

I've been very pleased with the Spectrums I have also.

JMHO

Rotor

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